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Show WHO IS WOODROW WILSON? THE Democracy, which has an even better chance now of electing el-ecting a President of the United States than in 1892 when Grover Cleveland was sent to the White House, has selected for its standard-bearer standard-bearer Woodrow Wilson a college president who was hurled into public life through the governorship of New Jersey. He Ib one of the conspicuous figures In the new political drama and is really a problematic exponent of new political thought. A3 governor of New Jersey, he brought about the enactment of a law for direct primaries secured passage of an employers' liability and corrupt practices act, a public utilities commission, com-mission, factory protection, commission commis-sion form of government in cities, a law regulating the time that goods may be left in cold storage. Of course there were other laws. Incidentally, he put Boss Smith out of New Jersey Jer-sey politics and prevented his election to the United States senate. Before that he was president of Princeton university and has been a leading figure in national life for many years His ideas are summarized in a recent re-cent issue of Everybody's Magazine as follows: Believes the executive should counsel coun-sel and take counsel with the legislature, legisla-ture, and both should disregard the bosses. Deplores the use of patronage. patron-age. Sets great store by Public Opinion. Opin-ion. States his position on public fl questions only after mature deliber ation.- Believes in state rights, but with the emphasis on the duties of the states. Says character of our government gov-ernment must be determined by states because in their hands are questions of suffrage and methods of nomination nomina-tion and election. Initiative, referendum, referen-dum, and recall should be resorted to only in emergencies. In theory all wrong, but in practise they work well, so he is for them, although he was against them -vhen teaching. Against recall of judges. Judges are experts, not administrators. They determine what law is, not Avhat it ought to bo. Says our laws are a generation bo-hind bo-hind our economic advance. Present laws made for individuals. Should be enlarged to cover corporations. Ho quotes from the Virginia Bill of Rights: majority of the coramun- K!EI'tc?l''HBHIH9P59M9HBHBBHIHHHHHHBHBHI ity hath an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform alter, or abolish it as may be judged most conducive to the puplic weal." Mr. Wilson's critics have been bury since ho became a factor in the leadership lead-ership of the Democratic party. And what they have said of him may be summarized in the following: He set out after the Presidency, with Harvey and Wall Street back of him, to be a "great conservative force" as distinguished from Bryan's radical tendencies. Finding the people peo-ple not ready to back-track, he Hopped, Hop-ped, got rid of Harvey, who had discovered dis-covered him; got rid of Boss Smith, who had made him governor; and started in to out-Bryan Bryan in radical radi-cal suggestions. This necessitated changing his mind on initiative, referendum, ref-erendum, and recall, which he promptly prompt-ly accomplished apparently painlessly painless-ly and without effort. Now has Bryan's Bry-an's support. It is said of Wilson that if he can secure an end either peaceably or by fighting, he prefers to fight. He tries to be original. Does not take advice easily. He does not take kindly to details. In a message he advised tax reform, but no details. Also consolidating consoli-dating several state boards, without suggesting the way. Both ignored by legislature. Ho preaches publicity, but won't talk with reporters; sends them "pewritten state- ients. Statements State-ments ho gave out over Harvey controversy con-troversy concealed rather than revealed reveal-ed true 'Situation. Not strong for publicity pub-licity then. He will discuss only the questions he chooses to discuss. He is impatient of delays, and takes short cuts. All his acts appear to have con-corned con-corned more his candidacy for the Presidency and less his governorship. Neglected an opportunity to redistrict state to his party's advantage. His primary law not working well. He has' been out of the state more than a governor should be. Aftor all, it doesn't seem that the Democrats have given the Republicans Republi-cans much of a target for mud-throwing in the coming campaign. Mr. Wilson is porhaps the best presidential presiden-tial timber In the Democratic party. His campaign was splendidly managed and Princeton men all over the world may give nine 'rahs and a long Tiger whether he is elected or not. |